Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson
2012-09
Episodes
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
Benefits of a Firm Foundation, Part 3 | "Reach High Dig Deep"
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
Eph 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
We are built on a Firm Foundation of which Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:9, 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
One of the fallacies of do-called modern apostles is the claim that they are laying foundation. No. The foundation has already been laid by apostolic fathers. We can only build on what has already been built.
Paul, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
As a matter of fact, we don’t build anything new as it related to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “I will build my church.” As I have always taught you, the only thing Jesus is building is His church, because His church rises from the Firm Foundation he has already laid.
Every good thing God does in us and through us is connected to foundation. Everything else looks like the man who built his house on the ground without a foundation.
Today, we don’t dig deep to lay a foundation. We dig deep to connect to foundation.
When you visit the construction site of a tall building or great bridge, you will hear the sound of pile drivers which is a tall crane with a heavy weight attached to it. The pile are pillars of steel which are very long. They raise the heavy weight and then let it fall down on top of the pile. When it strikes the pile, it pushes it into the ground a few feet. It keeps driving the pile until it reaches bedrock. Once it reach bedrock, it’s only driving it down a few inches at a time. This goes on according the plan laid out by the Architects and engineers. They know how deep the piles have to go based on the size and weight of what is going to be build.
This becomes the foundation to the building and bridge.
I remember when I was young in faith and in the ministry, I had seasons of God pounding on me, driving me down to my necessary foundation. I’ll never forget they days of being excited about God, having zeal, but lacking knowledge and connectedness to foundation.
I remember how easily I became distracted by feelings, emotions, moods, offenses, lack, bad weather, the price of gas, and most of all having to wait for something I wanted.
When God gets through pounding your behind into foundation, here’s what you will sound like:
Acts 20:18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me;
Monday Sep 24, 2012
Benefits of a Firm Foundation, Part 2 | "This Place"
Monday Sep 24, 2012
Monday Sep 24, 2012
2 Thessalonians 3:3, Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and set you on a firm foundation... Amplified
What is "this place" for you? How is it connected to the firm foundation?
We have been blessed with many places of underserved privilege. I think my place first and foremost, as a child of God in the place of salvation in the kingdom of God. I think about my place as a father and husband. I also have been brought into a place of Gospel Ministry and as a pastor, where I have served for 34 years. I also have places of being a spiritual father, mentor, media consultant to churches, and college professor.
What are your places? How well do you stand in those places? Are you strongly connected to the firm foundation?
The foundation on which we stand was not built by us, but every generation becomes responsible to keep honor it and keep it strong. There are many foundations such as: Faith, Family, Fathers, Finance, Freedom,
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:9, 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Where it concerns the kingdom of God and Christ’s church, there are no new foundations being laid. If somebody tells you they are laying a new foundation, don’t believe him––and certainly don’t go stand on it.
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Benefits of a Firm Foundation, Part 1
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Monday Sep 17, 2012
Moving Forward on the Firm Foundation of Faith
The Benefits of a Firm Foundation
"Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." ~ Romans 5:2 (NLT)
2 Thessalonians 3:3, Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and set you on a firm foundation... Amplified
Every good thing God does in us and through us is connected to foundation.
Why is this? This it true because he is a father and builder and because He operates on eternal, rather than temporal, purposes.
1 Timothy 3:14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (or foundation) of the truth.
Jesus gave a foundational teaching illustration on the benefit3 of a foundation.
Luke 6:46 "But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 47Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."
Sunday Sep 02, 2012
Improving Your Serve
Sunday Sep 02, 2012
Sunday Sep 02, 2012
Improving Your Serve
Finding the Keys to Blessing In Life
There is great personal blessing that comes with serving others following the example of Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Philippians 2:1-11 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...
Mark 10:44-45 And whoever would be first among you must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Galatians 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Serving in the Kingdom of God is such a fundamental principle that Jesus Christ demonstrated the necessity of serving by washing His disciple’s feet. He did something helpful to people in that culture. He did not have to do it, but He did. Whether one is a leader or a follower, we should all be servants (e.g. The Apostles and Deacons of Acts 6:2-3). Serving God through serving others as the Bible defines it is an unknown concept in American society where we are taught to secure our personal comfort and success before everything else. Servants of God are not selfless, but we strive to live for the blessing of others. Being a servant requires training, practice and an adjustment in one’s attitude to accept a new way of living. This lesson will strongly challenge our concept of servanthood by the standard of the Word of God.
God’s servant is called.
God’s servant is chosen.
God’s servant is consecrated (focused on Him).
Our willingness to walk in submission and obedience is rooted in covenant-love and mutual respect for one another’s place before God. Having a servant’s heart is one a the great keys to working together in doing the will of God in the earth.
Servants Seek to:
1. Follow the example of Jesus in life and practice (John 12:26, Heb. 12:28)
John. 12:26, If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
2. Serve others as unto the Lord and in seeking to please Him (Gal. 1:10, Eph 6:5-7, Col. 3:22-23, Tit. 2:9-10. 1 Pet. 2:17-19)
3. Let others evaluate their progress (Prov. 27:2, 1 Tim. 3:10, 12)
4. Maintain a pure heart and attitude toward their leaders and all others (not judgmental)
5. Resist the temptation to advance themselves
6. Accept the consequences of their decisions and do not blame others for failure (Like Adam and the Prodigal Son)
7. Follow instructions and are prompt to fulfil responsibilities (Matt. 24:44-49) Some people only work when you watch them.
8. Work to remove instability from their lives born of doubt, unbelief, distrust and unforgiveness (Eph. 4:32, Jam. 1:6-8)
9. Communicate clearly and sincerely with others (1 Cor. 5:8)
10. Highly esteem their leaders and follow their godly example (1 Thess. 5:13, 1 Tim 6:1)
11. Place the interests of the Christ’s church over their person interests (Phil. 2:3)
12. Promote the purpose and vision of the ministry in which they serve, not themselves (2 Cor. 4:5)
Servants Avoid:
1. Overstepping their authority, prejudging others, or operate in presumption (Rom 14:4)
2. Looking for praise of men, but are humbly appreciative of any compliments. They also realize that some of the so-called compliments are only flattery (Acts 16:17)
3. Expecting promotion because of their “faithfulness” alone (Luke 17:7-10)
4. Developing an attitude that differs from their original sincerity when converted (Gal. 5:7)
5. Murmuring, complaining or entering into strife (2 Tim. 2:24, 1 Cor. 10:10)
6. Negotiating their service in the Kingdom, they are willing to do whatever their hand finds to do (Eccl. 9:10). They trust God for promotion (Matt. 23:11-12) If you serve your master, you master will serve you (Luk 12:37)
7. Operating with a hidden agenda
8. Allowing circumstances alone to change their focus, commitment or duty (Acts 14:19-21, 20:24)
9. Dividing their loyalties or permitting conflicts of interest to cause confusion (Luke 16:13 )
10. Letting the devil steal their joy and peace (Col. 3:15)
Self Examination & “Reality Check” Questions:
1. [ ] Yes [ ] No I feel that guidelines hinder my personal freedom
2. [ ] Yes [ ] No I am willing to wait indefinitely to be promoted
3. [ ] Yes [ ] No I can do what I am asked to do and trust that my leaders are following God
4. [ ] Yes [ ] No I need to speak up when I believe it is time for me to advance
5. [ ] Yes [ ] No I look for men to praise me when I do something right
6. [ ] Yes [ ] No I am afraid of being controlled by others
7. [ ] Yes [ ] No I pray more for my own needs than for the needs of others
8. [ ] Yes [ ] No I can think now of some people who are hindering my success and growth
9. [ ] Yes [ ] No I can serve God better in someplace other than where I am right now